(BLOOMINGTON) - The City of Bloomington is suggesting improvements to Title 20. Amendments to the ordinance regulation affect maximum heights, maximum densities, and modulation requirements. These interim Title 20 adjustments brought forth by the City's Planning and Transportation Department reflect what the City anticipates in the forthcoming comprehensive regulations to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO).

Short-term Title 20 improvements include the following:

Reducing the maximum by right height permitted in all overlays

Reducing the maximum by right density permitted in all overlays except for Showers Technology Park Overlay

Changing modulation requirements to better break up the mass of long buildings

"This proposal reduces the by right height and density available downtown, pending the final approval of the Comprehensive Plan and adoption of the UDO expected next year," said Mayor John Hamilton. "Changes are intended to reduce the size and intensity of by right development in the downtown area as an interim modification until comprehensive new regulations for the downtown area can be written as part of the City's overall UDO update."

Council President Susan Sandberg commented, "The City Council will look forward to a review of the challenges currently facing the Plan Commission with recent downtown developments and to help with the revision of the Title 20 rules to address immediate concerns."

The proposed amendments to the UDO will be heard by the Plan Commission at their December 11 meeting, which takes place in Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. If approved by the Plan Commission, the amendments will go before City Council for discussion at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on December 13 with a vote to follow at their regular meeting on December 20.